Center for Academic Mobility Research and Impact

Measuring Global Knowledge

The Institute of International Education’s Center for Academic Mobility Research and Impact brings together the Institute’s in-house research expertise and leading minds from around the world to conduct and disseminate timely research in the field of international student and faculty mobility. The Center also excels in its analytical work studying the impact of international exchange, leadership, and scholarship programs in education. The Center provides applied research and program evaluation services to domestic and international government agencies, non-governmental organizations, corporations and foundations. The Center’s in-depth books and reports, including the Open Doors Report on International Education Exchange, supported by the U.S. Department of State, are key reference resources.

What We Do:

Drive policy and program decisions through applied research and analysis

We conduct longitudinal and snapshot research on the global mobility of students and faculty as well as offer a comprehensive suite of research services. Our policy papers and snapshot surveys capture trends in the rapidly changing landscape of international education.

Longitudinal and snapshot research on the global mobility of students and faculty: Since 1919, the Institute has pioneered the collection of student mobility data. Today this continues through Open Doors® that provides trend analysis on international students and scholars in the U.S. and on American students abroad, through Project Atlas® and related projects. New and upcoming research includes: U.S. students pursuing degree study overseas; student enrollment in U.S. branch campuses overseas; and trends in U.S. faculty mobility.

Research services: The Center provides customized research services that focus on student mobility and the internationalization of higher education. Our wide range of U.S. and international clients and sponsors includes: the U.S. government; U.S. higher education institutions; U.S. state consortia; the Ford Foundation; Carnegie Corporation; and the World Bank, among others.

Measure Impact of International Education Programs

We provide technical assistance and expertise to international education programs that want to measure the outputs, outcomes, and impact of their work. IIE’s substantive knowledge of the international exchange and leadership development fields and our methodological expertise drives our study of the impact and multiplier effects of a wide range of programs. The Center also specializes in carrying out alumni impact studies, including a 10-year tracking study of the Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP).

Current and past clients and sponsors include: the Ford Foundation; the Carnegie Corporation of New York; the Cargill Foundation; the Alcoa Foundation; the Schlumberger Foundation; and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Foster and Disseminate Knowledge

We offer a range of in-depth publications, and host global conferences, roundtable discussions, and expert workshops that bring together networks of thought leaders on key topics in international education and global mobility.

Conferences: The Center disseminates its research and analysis at international conferences on international education, international development and educational research. Recent and upcoming conferences include, among others: the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE); NAFSA; AIEA; EAIE; APAIE; CAIE; and CIES.

Roundtable discussions: The Center frequently hosts roundtable discussions of critical trends that bring together a diverse group of participants, including: experts in the field, practitioners, policymakers, and educators. Recent roundtable discussions have focused on: trends in global student mobility; higher education in the Middle East; the U.S. Department of State’s Passport to India initiative; and higher education in Africa.